Veteran Worldbuilder Jess Lanzillo Joins White Wolf as World of Darkness Creative Director
With leadership experience from DUNGEONS & DRAGONS and Magic: The Gathering, Lanzillo will help usher in the next chapter for World of Darkness
STOCKHOLM – JULY 10, 2025 – White Wolf, the official licensing and publishing entity for World of Darkness properties enjoyed by millions of players around the world, such as Vampire: The Masquerade, Werewolf: The Apocalypse, and Hunter: The Reckoning, today announced that Jess Lanzillo is now the Creative Director for World of Darkness. A veteran crafter of world-renowned gaming and entertainment franchises, Lanzillo joins at a pivotal moment as White Wolf brings licensing and publishing for World of Darkness in-house to deliver more unified, high-quality experiences across its modern horror IP.
Before joining White Wolf, Lanzillo was at Wizards of the Coast, where she served as Vice President of Franchise and Product for DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, following years of franchise creative direction for Magic: The Gathering. Her proven experience shepherding and developing beloved gaming properties, while maintaining their core identity, positions her to grow World of Darkness's reach across multiple venues.
Lanzillo has been a devoted World of Darkness player since the original 1991 release of Vampire: The Masquerade. Her combined passion as a long-time fan and expertise in amplifying player voices allow her to translate community desires into franchise development. As Creative Director, she leads the vision and IP development for World of Darkness story worlds across its transmedia catalog, encompassing TTRPG sourcebooks, video games, and other media. She ensures the brand’s gothic narrative and worldbuilding remain bold, modern, and true to its roots.
“World of Darkness has been my creative north star since the '90s, and I've seen firsthand how these games create communities and inspire storytellers,” said Jess Lanzillo, World of Darkness Creative Director at White Wolf. “My focus is on supporting and amplifying what makes these worlds special—the rich lore, the player agency, the mature themes—while ensuring they reach everyone who would love them. World of Darkness is so much more than just games; it's a cultural touchstone with a passionate community and incredible untapped potential.”
"Bringing Jess on board to shape the creative future of World of Darkness is a big win for White Wolf," said Marco Behrmann, White Wolf Executive Vice President. "She’s a world-class Creative Director with deep roots in developing transmedia properties and a sharp instinct for audience-first storytelling. Jess’s experience makes her the perfect fit to lead White Wolf in bold, ambitious ways. Jess is a key pillar of our expanding studio, helping drive a strong and clear creative vision from the heart of our team. Her arrival underscores Paradox’s long-term commitment to White Wolf and our goal to make World of Darkness the number one horror entertainment brand in the world."
White Wolf operates as an independent publishing and licensing entity inside Paradox Interactive, overseeing all transmedia products set in the World of Darkness. Paradox is committed to supporting White Wolf’s new era, empowering its leadership to work closely with partners, unify its legendary universe, and expand its narrative-driven horror properties. Learn more about White Wolf’s return here.
The press kit for White Wolf, including logos and banners, is available here.